I have to laugh! Lived there 8 years. Went back to grad school at UCI and left when I finished my Ph.D. 31 years ago. I know it’s grown hugely since then. However, even though I moved to a beautiful area in the Rockies, I missed the Irvine weather and the closeness of the ocean for years.

Hi,
> Supermarkets that charge you 30% more because you donâ€™t have some silly plastic card.
I agree with this one and have stopped going to stores that do this. In the Newport-Mesa area that means I skip Ralphs, Albertsons and Vons and shop at Staters Bros., Trader Joes or Mothers.

I also agree about the drivers in the bike lane. I don’t think you really need a car to go anywhere, though. I’ve started my car only once in the last month (on a day that it rained.) I’ve found that I can get pretty much anywhere on my bike; I generally go only as far north as Long Beach or south as far as Laguna. I get off work after 10 PM, so riding in the dark is kind of scary as well. Other than the lack of 100% bike-lanes, though, I find it a pretty bicycle friendly area.

“The white line will usually be broken near the corner and the words “BIKE LANE” will be painted in the lane. When you are making a right turn and are within 200 feet of the corner or other driveway entrance, you must enter the bike lane for the turn.”
— http://www.dmv.ca.gov/pubs/hdbk/pgs22thru25.htm

#7 Are those people actually bothering you in some way, or do you just like to pass judgement on and stereotype people you don’t know?

#6 Is owning a washer and dryer now the qualification for being considered rich? You can’t afford a washer and dryer? If not, I suggest moving to a part of the country with a lower cost of living. Sounds like you’re a victim of washer-and-dryer discrimination. Have you contacted a lawyer?

Next time you move to another part of the country, you might consider doing some research before you move and even going to visit the area to check things out. You could have discovered most of these on a weekend visit. Of course, if you can’t afford a washer and dryer, you probably can’t afford a plane ticket either.